By Michael Madyira
Hosts Ivory Coast set the tone for what could be an exciting Africa Cup of Nations tournament with a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara on Saturday.
It took just four minutes for the crowd inside the stadium to erupt after Seko Fofana thrust the home side ahead with a beautiful shot.
Jean-Philippe Krasso then doubled Ivory Coast’s lead on 58 minutes with a fine strike and toasted to a delirious crowd.
It was an exciting start to Africa’s biggest football jamboree as the Elephants fired warning shots at other Group A contestants Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis Gasset started captain Serge Aurier from the bench, leaving Franck Kessie with the armband while forward Sebastien Haller was ruled out with an injury.
The party did not take long to light up when Fofana used his power to repel his markers before unleashing a scorcher from just inside the box
Guinea Bissau had a chance to hit back when Mama Balde broke loose on 29 minutes to face Ivorian goalkeeper Yahia Fofana but his shot was weak while under the challenge of Ousmane Diomande.
Fofana was unlucky to watch the woodwork denying him after being at the end of a beautiful feed from Kessie in the 34th minute.
The hosts kept control of proceedings in the second period as Krasso made it 2-0 when he profited from a poor clearance from Opa Sangante to acrobatically fire home a wondergoal.
Now feeling comfortable with 17 minutes remaining, the Ivorians nearly lapsed when Guinea-Bissau substitute Franculino Dju intercepted the hosts’ build-up.
He then charged forward and his left-footed shot drew an excellent save from Yahia Fofana who was then never troubled in the dying stages of the contest.
Pictured above: Ivory Coast players join Seko Fofana in celebrating their opening goal against Guinea-Bissau
Image source: CAF
